Results 521-540 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops/shelters nationally. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure that public transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stop/shelters nationally. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to working with all stakeholders to quickly progress Waterford Airport’s project to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous Government decision of 2019. In line with this commitment, and the requirements under the Infrastructure Guidelines, Waterford Airport has been invited to submit a Preliminary Business Case for this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Cork, and the development of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040. Within this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a strong commitment under the Programme for Government to create a Transport Security Force under the NTA, which would operate and have similar powers to Airport Police and Customs Officers. Work in the Department of Transport is ongoing around identifying the necessary legislative proposals to progress the Transport Security Force commitment, in conjunction with the National...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport in Ireland, including, in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, in relation to the rail network. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including in the Greater...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector. Uber is a transport service company which offers the carriage of passengers for reward and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202 and 203 together. The National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems was published on 20 August 2025. The Policy Framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning and development of the UAS sector in Ireland, through supporting growth and innovation, while ensuring safe and secure operations and managing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2024, the majority of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) must be equipped with a direct remote identification system. UAS broadcast over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth information such as their operator's registration ID, flight data and location. That information can be scanned by anyone with a mobile device using a variety of already available free mobile apps, that give members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (23 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The vast majority of Department of Transport storage happens on Department premises, managed by the OPW. The following additional contracts exist for off-site storage solutions, mainly relating to records retention in line with the National Archives Act and storage of long-term ICT backups. Company Cost of contract - year Files/archive Other ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (18 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The total installed capacity of solar generation connected to the grid currently stands at over 1.7 Gigawatts (GW) with a new record for peak solar generation set in July. This represents a very significant progress given that the first utility-scale solar project in Ireland was connected to the grid in 2022. Government policy is focused on maintaining this momentum and delivering on our...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward measures to contain energy costs and tackle energy poverty. Government has introduced a suite of measures over recent years to help...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (18 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Government has committed to the ambitious delivery of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. In response to this ambitious target, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024. Implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy is an on-going process of collaboration across key Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is a vital policy support for the development of renewable electricity to enable Ireland to reach energy and climate targets. Under the PSO, over 4.6 GW of renewable generation is supported through the REFIT and RESS schemes. The PSO is set annually by the CRU to recover or return electricity consumers funds associated with renewable supports. It...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (18 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Following Storm Éowyn, I asked ESB Networks (ESB-N) to prepare as a priority a Winter 2025 Resilience Plan to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter. This has been progressing since April and the actions include:-ESB-N has made hazards safe and progressed remedial works needed to refurbish the network.ESB-N continues to work with...